CALGARY, AB – A new brewery that is aiming to be a “celebration of Alberta” has released its first two brands, with more to follow.

Freehold Brewing has been founded by Matt James and Tavis Agnew, who have been working on establishing the brewery for more than two years.

Freehold made its official debut last weekend at the Rocky Mountain Wine & Food Festival, pouring samples of Big Chutes Lager (5.6% abv, 23 IBU) and Lacy Saisy Farmhouse Saison (5.75% abv, 28 IBU). The Lager is also now on tap at Beer Revolution in Edmonton, and cans will be on the shelf at Sherbrooke Liquor this weekend.

Cans and kegs of both beers are planned to be distributed to other bars and stores in Alberta in coming weeks, and they will also be joined by two other brands – Air Mail IPA (5.9% abv, 66 IBU) and Blackstrap Stout (6.9% abv, 52 IBU).

The next phase for Freehold will be the opening of a restaurant and taproom in the historic C. C. Snowdon building in the Calgary’s Ramsay neighbourhood. Exact timelines haven’t been announced, but the venue is expected to open in early 2018.